Surviving as a Con Artist at the Academy

42nd Chapter. Shadow Brigade

The Shadow Brigade.

They grew up learning various assassination techniques from the moment they were born.

To survive… to protect the royalty, they wouldn’t hesitate to throw away their own lives.

They were thoroughly educated that this was the reason for living.

From the start, the educational environment was such that the value of life never even crossed their minds.

The ideology of Papias is blood and war.

Born into such a place, they had to adapt to the environment to survive.

They considered themselves very special among the people of the Papias Kingdom.

While their harsh training from birth played a part, the fundamental reason lies elsewhere.

This is because they are ‘created’ beings.

No matter how raised in the chaos of war, a person inevitably starts their life as a newborn.

However, they begin their existence in the form of teenage boys and girls from birth.

They are artificially born humans known as “Homunculi.”

The Papias Kingdom, always stained with the blood of war, could twist morality and ethics at any time.

The top-secret Shadow Brigade, aside from the fact that they were created, was human in every sense.

They were nurtured as combat weapons, utilizing the fact that they blended in perfectly among humans.

They do not fear losing their lives at all.

Even if they die, they can be recreated, no matter how many.

There is no better trait for a combat troop than this.

With that trait, they are modified to automatically commit suicide in the event of an emergency.

They can dispose of lives that no one wants to lose without hesitation.

Thus, the Shadow Brigade was solely raised for battle.

Even if they claim to be the weakest among themselves, they wouldn’t struggle against mere immature students.

Yet, such absurdity was unfolding right before their eyes.

By just one student…

“What’s this? Are you already tired?”

A white-haired academy student provoked them while gripping a sword.

This student, who looked quite mature for a student, Lyman Begilius, had not a single scratch.

He tapped the surface he was standing on and said nonchalantly.

Is this really reality?

With strength equivalent to that of active mercenaries, and even with four of them attacking, they couldn’t land a single blow on him.

How ridiculous that even when he abandoned the idea of treating him like a student and attacked with intent to kill, they were still at this stage.

In the academy, usually filled with noble offspring, they refrain from killing.

Instead, they utilize memory wipes, but this student was an exception.

Only locking eyes with one another brought forth screams from within.

Just like the other students, they warned him not to hold back; otherwise, they would die.

The fear of death, which should not have existed from their birth, was… newly born because of this student.

“What did that prince command you to target them?”

“What?”

It was a fact they momentarily forgot while fighting, but… this student had noticed that they were the Shadow Brigade.

Awareness of their existence, a top-secret entity.

And their absurd skills were beyond the realm of an ordinary student.

“What are you?”

A being that awakens even nonexistent emotions. Could it be that the person currently in front of them was a human before being a student?

Only their outward appearance matched that of students. Perhaps they were an even more detached existence than that.

“You guys will just fade away like this, right? You don’t have much time left in this condition, do you?”

“What nonsense!”

Four of them charged at him with all their might.

A murderous intent that they thought would never be expressed in a campus full of snot-nosed kids was now laid bare.

Using their numbers, they threw and swung daggers from various aspects, both front and back.

When the right hand launched a strike, the left hand prepared to cast elemental magic.

Lyman deflected all the daggers flying his way with his sword.

The brigade frowned at his quick reflexes.

They had charged in like this just moments ago and had been sent flying by force.

But this time was different; he had completed the casting.

A gust of sword wind burst forth from his other hand.

As magic called ‘Wind Break’ activated, the air screamed.

The bladed wind, possessing tremendous cutting power, crossed over the surface, but Lyman raised his sheathed sword to block it.

The sheathed sword surrounded by an aura was as solid as iron.

Apart from being pushed back due to momentum, it was not something Lyman could not handle.

But the brigade was waiting for him to lose his balance.

Transmuting their bodies into black mist, they moved freely without inconvenience or the hindrance of walls.

They approached him without resistance and plunged a dagger into his heart. Their killing strike, as a ghostly existence, should never be underestimated.

“How you use Naturalization is not quite right.”

“…!”

Lyman parried all the incoming daggers.

Thus, metal squealed, shattering into pieces, and the Shadow Brigade coughed up blood.

“Gah!”

The four realized too late that they had wounded themselves. In the midst of collapsing, they saw Lyman’s sword stained with their own blood.

“How… can you hit me…?”

“…”

Deep red aura danced along Lyman’s blade, and a crimson glint shone in his eyes.

Correcting their existence as formless beings, he severed them with an unfathomable force that coursed along the blade.

It was a sinister energy that was hard to believe originated from a human body.

Divine Sword. One who reaches that state can either hide within nature or even tear apart a ghost that has left its body.

The Shadow Brigade, struck down by that one blow, floated on the lake.

Their appearance could only be regarded as either dead or unconscious, and it was a pitiful sight.

The fate of the Shadow Brigade was now set.

Swoosh—

Their bodies gradually transformed into sand.

As if they were sculptures made of soil from the start, their flesh began to lose form and scatter as sand.

Eventually, the remainder of their bodies began to dissolve in the same manner.

Seeing their dying forms that didn’t feel strange at all, Lyman didn’t even blink.

Instead of being surprised, he was busy releasing the power he had activated.

“I used it carelessly after such a long time.”

“…”

“How long are you going to watch?”

Suddenly, Lyman spoke, gazing at the bushes.

In those unwavering bushes, apart from the occasional sound of insects, there was nothing but silence… then I crawled out.

Originally, I was worried about him.

Unlike the main story, he had just been swarmed by four members of the Shadow Brigade. I was considering whether I should jump in and help if things got dicey.

However, after watching the fight just now, I felt relieved.

‘Truly a monster.’

And there was a fact I must not forget.

It may sound crazy, but… that’s a clone. A mere shadow of which even half the power of the main body is not present.

“You didn’t come here to fish in this situation, did you? Or are you also after that divine beast?”

“No, that’s not it.”

As I walked on water, he asked me, and I waved my hands, answering.

When Lyman shook off the dust and asked, ‘Then what’s going on?’ I replied in detail.

“I was wondering how things were going. The lower-ranked guys are stuck in Libel Hall, but some have managed to escape. So, I came to check…”

– You’re fighting some ghost-like creatures, right?

…And I finished my sentence.

[Rate of Erosion Decreased: -2%]

[+200 Credits]

There was a nuance that indicated ignorance of the Shadow Brigade.

The rate of erosion decreased due to the lies contained within.

After hearing my response, Lyman appeared to fall into thought for a moment, then nodded as if he understood.

“True, you and those guys aren’t that far apart anymore.”

Fortunately, it seemed Lyman was aware and understood the relationship between me and them.

If not, he would have undoubtedly grabbed me by the collar and suspected me without a doubt.

I didn’t just play nice in front of him for no reason. He’s a guy who can explode like a nuclear missile if things go wrong.

This game has several routes.

Naturally, if you go down the bad route… you’ll witness a fiery scene where one person alone breaks apart not just the academy but the entire empire.

Of course, it’s the empire’s retributive justice, providing the player with a cathartic ending, but…

‘Not from my perspective. Absolutely!’

Preventing that ending from happening is my task now. Anyway, it seems I’ve passed this ordeal well.

“Lyman, you’re not hurt, are you?”

“No need to worry, just go back down. Staying here may involve you in something like just now.”

“Tsk. Fine, got it.”

Seeing Lyman effortlessly wipe out the Shadow Brigade gave me relief. Now, he would feel lethargic for a while as a consequence of using the divine sword.

Indeed, I could vaguely see his body slightly blurring.

That meant the heroines had probably defeated the Shadow Brigade by now.

Due to the unexpected arrival of Luska and the revived Mary, the situation was reversed, and their counterattack began.

Even Jenny, who was being pushed back in close combat, cornered one member of the brigade with Luska’s joint attack. Watching them bicker while fighting was a spectacle.

Another member of the brigade summoned insects again to attack for support.

However, half were burned away by Crona’s Sun Red, and the remaining half all went down Mary’s throat.

Witnessing that scene, both enemy and ally alike were left speechless.

Crona disparaged them, saying, “Were you a toad in your past life?” while the Shadow Brigade gasped, realizing they met the opponent with the worst compatibility.

As the brigade started to push back, they resorted to Naturalization as a last-ditch attempt to ambush.

But this was when Jenny’s new skill awakened.

Having only been able to control it up to 20%, she could now handle it up to 25%.

Unable to withstand the tremendous cold, the Shadow Brigade dropped their Naturalization.

Spotting an opening, Jenny and Luska used “Snowfall” and “Blood Wind,” each accelerating skill to slash down two enemies simultaneously.

Slashing their opponent diagonally at high speed and drawing an X through the center was a bonus effect.

Victorious, they collapsed from exhaustion briefly, filled with joy.

At that moment, Angela and Luska’s eyes met.

Drawn as if by some force, Angela moved towards Luska, and Luska seemed to be pulling her in as well.

‘Luska. What are you trying to do right now?’

Feeling ominous, Jenny asked…

‘Sorry.’

Luska burst the smoke bomb and vanished with Angela.

Bang!—

As they descended the mountain, a sound echoed, and a hazy mist rolled in. It seemed a smoke bomb had detonated as in the main story.

And that signified the end of the mid-point of Chapter 2.

Perhaps on the other side, someone would roar, vowing to curse Luska, but realizing that it was flowing just like the main story, I felt a twinge of joy and happily descended the mountain.

The smoke from my sighs didn’t suit the place where I stood.

Surviving as an Academy Scammer.